Folding cardboard chair



Feb. 2, 1965 T. J. LYLEs FOLDING CARDBOARD CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledFeb. 26, 1963 Feb. 2, 1965 T. J. LYlrEs 3,168,347

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United States Patent iiiice idi Patented Fel). 2, 1955 3,168,347 FLDINGCABQARD C Terry 3. Lyles, 2601 N. Grant, Springfield, Mo. Fiied Feb. 26,1963, Ser. No. 261,075 7 Claims. (Cl. 297-442) The present invention isgenerally related to furniture, and is more particularly concerned withthe provision of an armchair which can be easily and quickly assembledfrom essentially a single sheet of relatively stili material, such asfor example cardboard.

It is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide aneconomical lightweight chair capable of being easily assembled in thehome without any tools being necessary.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also an object of thepresent invention to provide for a folding chair which, upon erection,possesses a maximum amount of rigidity and strength.

Likewise, it is intended that the armchair of the present invention,aside from two flat interconnected brace members, be formed from asingle sheet of stiff material provided with a series of slits and foldlines.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide afoldable chair wherein each tace of the chair which is to be directlyengaged by a person sitting therein consist of at least two panels.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a folding chairwhich, aside from the folding of the sheet of material, requires thatonly one edge be glued or otherwise fastened and two tongues be insertedwithin two slots so as to construct the chair.

It is yet another `object of the present invention to provide a chairwhich, because it is constructed mainly of a single sheet of material,can be economically manufactured at a minimum cost with the shippingcosts also being substantially decreased in that rather than shipping anassembled chair, only the precut iiat sheet need be shipped, this sheetbeing assembled either just prior to sale to the ultimate purchaser, orassembled by the purchaser himself.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of the sheet of material from which the chair isformed, this sheet having both the slits and score lines arrangedthereon in a specific predetermined pattern;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of an intermediate step` in the assemblyof the chair;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the completely assembled chair;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially on a planepassing along line 4 4 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a planepassing along line 5 5 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional View taken substantially on aplane passing along line 6 6 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on aplane passing along line 7 7 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on aplane passing along line 8 8 in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the cross brace in a partiallyassembled condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and with speciiicreference to FIGURE 1, reference numeral 1G has been used to generallydesignate the sheet or blank of stitl material from which the chair 12is formed. This blank 10, of cardboard or any other similar suitablematerial, is generally rectangular in form and includes a bottom edge14, top edge 16, right side edge 18, and left side edge 20. A verticallyelongated side ilap 22 extends laterally from the lower portion of theleft side edge 20 and is integral with the adjoining portion of theblank 1i) with a score line 24 forming an extension of the left sideedge 26 and separating the side ap 22 from the remainder of the blank10.

Aside from the side ap 22, the blank 10 is divided into four verticalsections 26, 28, 30 and 32, sections 26 and 38 being the reverse ormirror image of each other, and sections 28 and 32 each beingsymmetrical, that is, each of the sections 28 and 32 consist of mirrorimage portions on opposite sides of a'vertical centerline (imaginary)extending therethrough.

Sections 26 and 30 are both separated from the intermeditae section 28by score lines 34 extending upwardly from the bottom edge 14 and eachterminating in an aligned slit 36 which in turn terminates in an alignedsecond score line 38 which extends to a second slit 40 in alignmenttherewith and extending to the top edge 16.

Each of the sections 26 and 30 include a vertically extending slit 42parallel to and spaced slightly from the adjoining slit 36, this slit 42being generally centered on the slit 36 and terminating short of boththe top edge 16 and the bottom edge 14.

Two transversely extending slits 44 and 46 are provided between each ofthe section slits 42 and the adjoining dividing line between thesections, the slit 44 being straight and extending between the uppermostlimit of the slit 42 and the lowermost limit of the slit 49, and theslit 46v being angular and extending between an intermediate point ofthe slit 42 and the uppermost limit of the slit 36 thus forming, in thecase of section 26 and in relation to the finished chair 12 as shown inFIGURE 3, the right securing ap 48- including the right securing tongueS0, the left securing ap 52 including the left securing tongue 54 beingformed in the section 30. With continued reference to the blank 10 inFIGURE l and with reference to the assembled chair 12 as shown in FIGURE3, it will be appreciated that a score line 56 is provided laterallybetween, in each of the sections 26 and 30, the vertical slit 42 and thelower limit of the adjoining slit 36 thus forming, between the slit 46and the score line 56, a right top iiap 58 and and a left top flap 60.

. Extending transversely across each section 26 and 30 between thevertical slit 42 and the opposite side of the section are three parallelscore lines 62, 64 and 66, the lowermost one 62 of these score linesbeing in line with the lowermost limit of the slit 42 and with theuppermost limit of the side ap 22. The intermediate score line 64 islocated between the lower limit of the slit 42 and the score line 56with the upper score line 66 being located intermediate the score line56 and the angular slit 46 at approximately the point of engagementbetween the slit 46 and the slit 36. These score lines 62, 64 and 66, inthe case of the section 26, form the right side panel 68, the upperright arm panel 70, the right arm inside panel 72, and the middle seatpanel 74, this middle seat panel including a middle seat rear projectingtab 76 above the slit 44. In regard to the section 30, the score lines62, 64 and 66 form the left side panel 78, the upper left arm panel Sti,the left arm inside panel 82, and the lower seat panel 84, this lowerseat panel including a lower seat rear tab 86 formed between the slit 44and the upper edge 16. It will also be noted that both the right sidepanel 68 and the left side panel 78 include right and left side backtabs 8S and 98 formed between the slits 42 and the adjoining score lines34 below the score lines 56, these tabs 88 and 96 each including avertical slot, the right slot Y :i being indicated by reference numerals92 and the left slot being indicated by reference numeral 94.

The section 2S includes two transversely extending score lines 96 and98, the score line 96extending between the upper limits of the slits 36and the score line 98 extending between the lower limits of the slits`356 and thus dividing the section 28 into a rear panel 106, an uppertop panel 102, and an outer back panel 104. y

The Inal section, section 32, includes three transversely extendingscore lines 166, 1118, and 11d, lthese score lines extending along onlyan intermediate portion of lthe section 32 between the vertical edgesthereof. Aligned slits 1-'12 and 114 extend outwardly from both ends ofthe score lines 108 and h1@ and terminate at the adjacent section edgesthus forming, in conjunction with the score lines 1&8 and 1110, a lowertop panel 1116, lower top side flaps 118 and 120, an inner 'back panel122, an inner back left side flap 124, and an inner back rightY sideflap 126. The above described flaps 'are separated from/the :ad-joiningpanels by vertically extending score lines 128 interconnecting thevertically spaced outer ends of the score lines l1613 and 110 andterminating in vertically extending slits 169 which terminate in theouter ends of the score line l106, a pair of score lines 132 extendingout- 'wardly fromthe slits 130 in line with the score lines 612 of thesections 26 and 30 thus further dividing the section 32 so as to form anupper seat panel 134, a lower left arm panel 136, a lower right varmpanel 138, and a front panel 140, this front panel including both a leftarm front tab 142 and a 'right arm front tab `144 formed between theslits 130 and the adjoining section edges. Whilefnot previouslymentioned, it will be noted that the sections 30 and 32 are divided Abya vertically extending score line 146 extending upwardly .from the loweredge 14 and terminating on line with the score lines 62 and 132 fromwhich point an aligned slit 148 extends, this slit 14S terminating atthe upper edge 116.

In `assembling the chair 12 from the sblank .10, the vertical sections26, 28, 3 and 32 are first folded 'at right angles to each other so asto Vform a rectangle with the side -iiap 22 being folded alongA line 24and fastened, as by gluing, to therear of the outer edge of the frontpanel 140. Next, lthe lower left and right anni panels i136 and 133 'arebent rearward-ly to approximately a 90V degreeV angle with the frontpanel. At this point, it is generally desirable to insert the crossbrace 15@ illustrated in FIG- URE 9 and consisting of two iiat elongatedpanels e152 and 154 having complementary recesses '156 and 153 at themid-.points thereof so 'as to allow for an interlocking of the membersat Vfright angles to each other in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9.This cross 'brace '150 is to be of a height so as to enable the -upperedges of the panels 152 and 154 to engage the lower sur-face of thechair sea-t when the lower end of the brace 150 is on the supportingsurface upon which the chair 12 rests. .'Further, as will be appreciatedfrom the various sectional views of the assembled chair, the outer endsof each of the panels 152 and 154 are to be positioned in abuttingengagement in the angles formed by the adjacent sections thus not onlyfunctioning so as to resist any superimposed load, but also providingfor a substantial increase in the lateral stability o-f the chair 12.

After the ycross lbrace has been inserted, first section 35V and thensection 26 are folded along the score lines 62,.

64- and o6 so as to form the upper left and right arm panels lSi) and70, the `left and :right arm inside panels 82 and 72,

and the lower and middle seat panels 74 and 84, the lower seat panel Sebeing engaged with the upper edges of the cross brace 150 and the middleseat panel-74 resting di-V the upper seat panel 134 is bent'rearisfolded along lines 108 and 111i yso as to form both the inner .backpanel 122 and the lower top panel '116, this being clearly shown inFIGURE 2. At the same time, the flaps 11S, 12), 124 and 126 are `foldedrearwardly and inwardly, `also as clearly .seen in lFIGURE 2, so as toact as spacers and rigidicrs between the inner back panel 1122 and therear panel 100 which is parallel thereto when the chair 12 is in itsassembled condition.

After this, the right and left top iiaps 58 and 60 are folded inwardlytoward each other at 90 degrees to the adjacent side tabs `88 and 90,these flaps 58 and 60 resting Y on top of the lower top panel 116.

Finally, the section 28 is folded along score lines 98 and 96 so as t-oform the upper top panel 162 resting atop of the flaps 58 and 6G, andthe outer back panel 104 overlapping the inner back panel 122, thusproviding a double back panel. The entire assembly is then lockedtogether by folding the right and left securing flaps along fold orscore lines 3S with the securing tongues `50 and 54 being inserted intothe slots y92 `and v94. It should also be noted that upon the lfoldingof the outer back panel 164 `over the inner back panel I122 that theouter back Vpanel 10,4 is slid behind the arm panels thus furtherinterlocking the structure. Additionally, attention is directed to thefact that, upon assembling the chair 12, the middle and lower seatrearwardly projecting tabs 76 and S6 extend rearwardly into engagementwith the inner face of the rear panel M90 thus acting .as an additionalbracing Iand rigiditying means.

From the foregoing, it should be readily appreciated that Ia novelfolding chair has been defined wherein all of the major portions thereinfunction so las t-o strengthen and rigidify the over-'all structure, theassembly of the chair being extremely easy and requiring no tools andonly a minimum amount of skill.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit.the invention to the exact construction and operation shown-anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the inven- V tion asclaimed.

wardly so as to Ioverlap and rest atop the middle sea-t panel Y' 74 thusforming a seat of three panels, this folding being What is claimed asnew is as follows:

1. A folding chair constructed of stiff sheet material slit and foldedalong predetermined lines, said chair consisting of a seat brace and achair body, said chair body being formed of a single sheet of material,this body sheet being folded` so as to initially present four rightangular vertical sections, a right side section, a left side section, afront section, and a rear section, said right side, left side, andfrontl sections each including a full seat panel folded therefrom, saidseat panels being horizontally orientated and overlapped in superimposedrelation to each other rearward of the initial vertical plane of thefront section and between the initial vertical planes of `the sidesections so as to form a three layer seat portion,

Vsaid front section and said rear section each including a seat backpanel folded therefrom, said seat back panels being orientatedvertically and overlapped between the side sections substantially in thevertical plane of the rear of said seat panels, said right side sectionand said' front section yeach including a right arm panel foldedtherefrom, saidV right arm panels being orientated horizontally andoverlapped in a plane above the seat panels and to the right thereof,and said lefty side section and said front section each includinga leftarrn panel folded therefrom, said left arm panels being orientatedhorizontally andV overlapped in a plane above the seat panels and to theleft thereof. v

' 2. The construction of claim yl wherein said rear section includes arear panel maintained in the initial vertical plane of Vthe rearsection, said seat back panels being spaced forward of said rear panel,and saidk front section a sa,

seat back panel including a pair of rearwardly extending spacer flaps inabutting engagement with the rear panel so as to space the seat backpanels therefrom.

3. The construction of claim 2 wherein said side sections each include aside panel maintained in the initial vertical plane of the side section,each side panel including a coplanar vertically projecting tab adjacentthe rear edge thereof, each tab forming a closure for one side of thespace between the seat back panels and the rear panel.

4. The construction of claim 3 wherein said side panel tabs each includea centrally located vertical slot therethrough, and said rear sectionseat back panel includes a pair of rearwardly projecting securing apspositioned against the outer surfaces of the side panel tabs, and atongue on each flap received through the slots.

5. The construction of claim 4 wherein said seat brace consists of twovertical panels interlocked at the mid-point thereof, said seat bracebeing located beneath the seat panels and engaged therewith, the outerends of each of the vertical brace panels being engaged within one ofthe corners between the right angular vertical sections.

6. A blank for the construction of a folding chair consisting of asingle piece of stiff sheet material having dividing slits therein andbeing foldable along score lines, said piece being generally rectangularand having bottom, top, first side and second side edges, said piecebeing divided into four sections by a combination of aligned slits andscore lines extending from the bottom to the top edge, the rst and thirdsections being mirror images of each other, portions of each of thesecond and fourth sections on opposite sides of an imaginary centerlinebeing mirror images of each other, three score lines extendingtransversely upwardly from the bottom edge, each at one of theintersections between adjoining ones of the four sections, the scorelines between the first and second, and, second and third sections eachterminating at its upper end in an aligned slit which terminates in asecond aligned score line which terminates in an uppermost aligned slitwhich extends to the top edge, the score line between the third andfourth section terminating in an aligned slit which extends to the topedge, said first and third sections each having a slit parallel to theslits between these sections and the second section, the first and thirdsection slits each terminating short of both the top and bottom edgesand having the upper limit thereof joined by a transverse slit to thebottom limit of the uppermost slit between the sections, a second slitextending between an intermediate portion of each section slit and theuppermost limit of the lower slit between the sections, three parallelscore lines extending outwardly from each section slit to the oppositeside of the section, the lowermost ones of these parallel score linesbeing on line with the lowermost limit of the section slits, a pair ofparallel score lines extending across the second section, the upper lineof this pair interconnecting the upper limit of the lower slits betweenthe sections, and the lower line of this pair interconnecting the lowerlimit of the lower slits between the sections, said fourth sectionincluding three score lines extending across an intermediate portionthereof, the upper two of these fourth section score lines havingaligned slits extending from each end thereof to the edge of the fourthsection, and a pair of aligned score lines on line with the lowermostlimit of the slit between the third and fourth sections extendinginwardly from the edges of the fourth section to lines interconnectingthe ends of the three score lines across an intermediate portionthereof, said interconnecting lines each consisting of a score lineextending downwardly from the top edge to the middle one of said threescore lines and a slit aligned therewith and continuing to the lower ofthese three score lines.

7. The construction of claim 4 wherein said rear section includes a toppanel between the rear panel and the seat back panel, said top panelforming a closure for the top of the space between the seat back panelsand the rear panel7 and a top panel on the front section seat back panelunderlying the rear section top panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTTED STATES PATENTS 2,100,979 11/37Rewe 297-442 2,806,514 9/ 57 Smith 297-442 2,904,105 9/ 59 Holden297-442 2,940,513 6/ 60 Holden 297-442 2,955,647 10/ 60 Smith 297-4423,097,016 7/ 63 Bigler 297-445 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1. A FOLDING CHAIR CONSTRUCTED OF STIFF SHEET MATERIAL SLIT AND FOLDEDALONG PREDETERMINED LINES, SAID CHAIR CONSISTING OF A SEAT BRACE AND ACHAIR BODY, SAID CHAIR BODY BEING FORMED OF A SINGLE SHEET OF MATERIAL,THIS BODY SHEET BEING FOLDED SO AS TO INITIALLY PRESENT FOUR RIGHTANGULAR VERTICAL SECTIONS, A RIGHT SIDE SECTION, A LEFT SIDE SECTION, AFRONT SECTION, AND A REAR SECTION, SAID RIGHT SIDE, LEFT SIDE, AND FRONTSECTIONS EACH INCLUDING A FULL SEAT PANEL FOLDED THEREFROM, SAID SEATPANELS BEING HORIZONTALLY ORIENTATED AND OVERLAPPING IN SUPERIMPOSEDRELATION TO EACH OTHER REARWARD OF THE INITIAL VERTICAL PLANES OF THEFRONT SECTION AND BETWEEN THE INITIAL VERTICAL PLANES OF THE THE SIDESECTIONS SO AS TO FORM A THREE LAYER SET PORTION, SAID FRONT SECTION ANDSAID REAR SECTION EACH INCLUDING A SEAT BACK PANEL FOLDED THEREFROM,SAID SEAT BACK PANELS BEING ORIENTATED VERTICALLY AND OVERLAPPED BETWEENTHE FRONT SECTION AND BETWEEN THE INITIAL VERTICAL PLANES OF REAR OFSAID SEAT PANELS, SAID RIGHT SIDE SECTION AND SAID FRONT SECTION EACHINCLUDING A RIGHT ARM PANEL FOLDED THEREFROM, SAID RIGHT ARM PANELSBEING ORIENTATED HORIZONTALLY AND OVERLAPPED IN A PLANE ABOVE THE SEATPANELS AND TO THE RIGHT THEREOF, AND SAID LEFT SIDE SECTION AND SAIDFRONT SECTION EACH INCLUDING A LEFT ARM PANEL FOLDED THEREFROM, SAIDLEFT ARM PANELS BEING ORIENTATED HORIZONTALLY AND OVERLAPPED IN A PLANEABOVE THE SEAT PANELS AND TO THE LEFT THEREOF.